Windjammers Mary Day and Angelique on a port tack during the 2015 Great Schooner Race.

The numbers are in and what’s clear is that 2015 was filled with delicious meals, plenty of beachside lobster bakes, camaraderie among travelers from all over the world and gorgeous vistas.

credit: Linda Alschuler

With a lobsterbake featured on every windjammer cruise, guests and crew consumed nearly 6 tons of lobster during the 2015 season!

From late-May to October, 4,016 guests travelled from 48 US States*, Canada, Europe, Central America, and as far afield as the Arabian Peninsula, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand to enjoy Maine’s traditional sailing ships. They consumed nearly 12,000 pounds of lobsters during beachside lobster bakes accompanied by steamers, corn on the cob and melted butter.

Guests

In 2015, the windjammer captains hosted 20 charter trips in which families, companies and classmates had the ships to themselves. This year’s youngest Maine windjammer guest was about to celebrate her 3rd birthday when she joined her family as part of a charter group. On the other end of the continuum, a spry and adventuresome 94-year-old enjoyed every moment of his family reunion.

credit: Nakomis Nelson

The Stephen Taber makes a pass before dropping anchor next to the Victory Chimes in Gilkey Harbor.

Celebrations

Maine’s windjammers offer the perfect setting for family gatherings of every stripe including anniversaries, birthdays and reunions. This year alone, most cruises had crew and passengers either singing a rousing version of “Happy Birthday,” and/or toasting wedding anniversaries – 50th anniversaries were a special theme this year. For the nuptials, our Captains officiated 10 weddings – a few of them spontaneous!

credit: Ellen Keiter

Even though the fleet carried more than 4,000 guests over the course of the 2015 season, there is always time for solitude, if someone seeks a little quiet time.

Wildlife

Maine’s unique geography – with thousands of islands and peninsulas – means that there are over 3,400 miles of rugged shoreline to explore. In 2015, the Maine Windjammer Association fleet logged more than 20,000 miles along Maine’s coast with more than 30 whale sightings, innumerable puffins, porpoises, eagles, deer, osprey, and baby seals. Guests on one lucky cruise spotted a mink on the shore enjoying a sea urchin while another captain saw a tuna leaping out of the water.

credit: Richard Schmidt

September guests were treated to dryer, warmer weather than usual, with temperatures averaging 5 degrees above normal. The night skies during the WoodenBoat Sail-In in mid September were particularly spectacular!

Night Skies

Celestial highlights of the season included northern lights that were spotted by most captains at least once, a blue moon, a full moon eclipse, countless shooting stars, and gorgeous full moons complete with phosphorescent rows around the harbor.

It would be wrong to judge a vacation strictly by the numbers, but by all accounts, 2015 was an excellent sailing season. For more information about sailing in 2016, visit the Maine Windjammer Association website.

*Hoping to round-out all 50 states next season, with guests from Wyoming and Hawaii!